1. Playa Vista residents along with librarian Prudence Michael learn how to say “I love you” in Chinese from teacher Xiao Luan
2. Xiao Luan explains the Pinyin system of pronunciation
3. Chinese-native Xiao Luan happily breaks out the Mahjong tiles
4. The game of Mahhong was developed by the Qing dynasty in the 17th century
5. Mahjong is played with 144 tiles that feature Chinese characters and symbols
Photos by Maria Martin
This summer’s blockbuster movie “Crazy Rich Asians” created an enthusiastic following of fans seeking to learn more about China’s history, culture and, of course, the popular game of Mahjong.
For adults interested in all things Chinese, Playa Vista Library recently partnered with the Ni Hao Chinese educational group to offer a free program called “Learn Chinese the Fun Way: Tea Talk Chinese Language & Culture.”
The first session, held on Sept. 19, introduced the language’s character structure and its Pinyin system of pronunciation. The students then learned over a dozen words and sentences, including the all-important “I love you” and “What would
you like to drink?” The lesson ended with a quick intro to Mahjong.
Everyone who attended agreed that Chinese is quite challenging, but a fun language to learn. The next class is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 2 to 3 p.m.
For more information, contact Playa Vista Branch Library at (310) 437-6680
or visit lapl.org/branches/playa-vista.
— Maria Martin
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